Dispensing closure



Jan. 3, i939. s, c:l WAITE 2,142,293

DISPENSING CLOSURE Filed March 22, 1957 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dispensing closures.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dispensing closure especially designed for association with tubes, preferably of the compressible type employed for the dispensing of dental cream, shaving cream and the like, the dispensing closure comprising a hollow plunger forming a closure for the tube when at its limit of inward movement and also forminga dispensing closure when partially moved outwardly of the tube.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing closure of the foregoing character wherein the closure that is in the form of a plunger is provided with a longitudinally extending tapering rib that is receivable in a tapering groove in the neck of the tube to cause a binding action between the closure and tube neck when I) the closure is at its limit of inward movement for eilectively retaining the same in such position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing closure for a tube wherein the neck of the tube is normally closed by a puncturable disk arranged adjacent its inner end that is adapted to have a part thereof struckout by the inner end of the closure with a spring device carried by the closure for limiting outward movement ofthe closure with the cap restrained from rotation in the tube neck by means of an interlocking wedge connection between the closure and tube neck to prevent complete severance of the struck-out portion of the disk from the tube neck.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

` Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a collapsible dispensing tube having a sealing disk in the neck thereof with the dispensing closure shown in elevation and mounted in the outer end of the tube neck and also showing the ri:- and slot wedge `connection between the neck and closure;

Figure 2 is a top end elevational view showing lateral handles or nger pieces carried by the dispensing closure to facilitate operationthereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 2 of Figure 2, showing the spring device carried by the dispensing closure and the rib, wedge and slot connection between the dispensing closure and neck tocause a binding action -between the closure and neck when the closure is at its limit of inward movement and also acting to prevent rotation of the closure in the neck;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing the external longitudinal rib on the tube neck to facilitate the formation of the internal groove in the neck to receive the wedge rib on the dispensing closure; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the dispensing closure.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the reference character I designates a collapsible tube having a shoulder I I and a tapering neck I2 that terminates at its outer end in a substantial knife edge I3. The neck I2 is provided with a cylindrical bore I 4 beginning at the outer knife edge I3 thereof and terminating in spaced relation to the shoulder I2, the Alower inner end `of the neck I2 having an annular'cutaway portion I defining an abutment shoulder I6. An outwardly directed longitudinally extending rib II is formed on 'the outer side of the neck I2 and extends for the entire length of the neck, and the bore lll of said neck I2 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove I8 in line with the rib II with the groove opening at the upper knife edge I3 of the neck and terminating at its lower end in spaced relation to the abutment shoulder I6, the bottom wall of the groove I8 being inclined upwardly and outwardly. A puncturable closure wall I 9 extends across the neck I2 in line with the abutment shoulder I6 for normally sealing the contents of the tube I.

The dispensing closure 20 comprises a hollow cylindrical plunger 2| closed at its outer end as at 22 with the inner end bevelled as at 23 forming a lower cutting edge 2li. The plunger 2l. is annularly reduced adjacent its lower end as at 25 to define a shoulder 26 that is engageable with n an abutment shoulder 2l formed at the lower end of the bore Il when a disk-like portion has been severed from the closure wall I9 of the tube neck, to limit inward movement of the dispensing closure 2@ in the neck I2. A lateral dispensing opening 28 is formed in a side wall of the plunger 2i adjacent the closed outer end 22 and when the dispensing closure is at its limit of inward movement within the neck i2, said dispensing omning 2d is closed by the tube neck as shown in Figure 3. A longitudinally extending tapered rib 29 is carried by the outer side of the plunger 2l and extends from the closed end 22 to a point spaced from the shoulder 26, the rib 29 being receivable in the groove 68 in the neck I2 and by its wedging action in said groove, the plunger 2| is held in binding engagement with the tube neck I2 against accidental movement outwardly of the neck, `said wedging action also producing a tight closure seal for the dispensing opening 28 as the rib is carried by the plunger 2| diametrically opposite the opening 2l which causes the side ot the plunger 2i provided with said opening to have a tendency to move toward the adjacent side of the tube neck.

When the tube and dispensing closure are prepared for shipment, the dispensing closure is so positioned in the neck i2 of the tube as to locate the rib 29 out of alignment with the slot I8 and in abutting relation to the knife edge Il of the neck to prevent accidental inward movement of the dispensing closure for puncturing the closure wall I9 in the neck. To puncture an vopening in the sealing wall I9, the dispensing closure is located in the bore of the tube neck with the tapering rib 29 registering with the groove I8 and upon inward pressure of the dispensing closure, the lower cutting edge 24 thereof will partially sever a disk from the sealing wall I9 and move such severed disk laterally of the opening cut in said wall as shown at ISa in Figure 3. To prevent complete removal of the dispensing closure from the tube neck, said closure carries a spring device that coacts with the abutment shoulder I6 within the tube neck to limit4 outward movement of the dispensing closure. As shown more clearly in Figure 3, a wire spring 30 is bent upon itself to provide a pair of legs 3i and 32 with the looped portion of the spring directed toward the closed end 22 of the dispensing closure, the free end 33 of the leg 3i being in ilat lengthwise contact with the inner face of the lower reduced end 25 of the plunger 2| while the free end of the leg 32 is angularly and return bent to provide a catch 34 that extends through an opening 35 in the lower end 25 of the plunger'2l diametrically opposite the free end 33 of the leg 3i, the catch moving into engagement with the abutment shoulder I6 of the tube neck for limiting outward movement of the dispensing closure. After the dispensing closure has been locked into the tube neck by the spring device, the rib 29 remains engaged with the neck slot Il at all times and prevents rotation of the dispensing closure within the tube neck so that the catch 3l of the spring device cannot be rotarily shifted for completely severing the struck-out disk Ilia from the sealing wall I9. Lateral ears 36 are carried by the outer end of the dispensing closure 20 to facilitate operation of the same,

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is nevertheless to be undersood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, a tube having a neck, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck, and a spring device carried by the slidable closure and completely housed therein in spaced relation to the major portion of the contents of the tube and cooperatlng with the neck to prevent complete removal of the closure from-the neck.

2. In a device of the character described, a tube having a neck, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck, a spring device carried by the slidable closure and completely housed therein in spaced relation to the major portion of the contents of the tube and cooperating with the neck to prevent complete removal of the closure from the neck, and constantly engaging interiltting means carried by the neck and dispensing device to prevent rotation oi' the dispensing device in the neck.

3. In a device of the character described. a tube having a neck, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck, a spring device carried by the closure cooperating with the neck to prevent complete removal oi' the closure from the neck, the neck having a longitudinally extending internal groove and a wedge rib extending longitudinally of the dispensing device and disposed in the neck groove to prevent rotation of the dispensing device in the neck and to eiect a tighter seal between the neck and dispensing device when the latter is in its closed position.

4. In a device of the character described, a tube having a neck, a sealing disk adjacent the inner end of the neck, a dispensing closure having a bevelled sharpened inner end slidable in the neck and adapted to form an opening in the sealing disk when projected inwardly of the neck, means to prevent complete removal of the dispensing device from the neck after puncturing the disk, including a loop spring located entirely within the dispensing closure in spaced relation to the major portion of the contents of the tube and having one end resiliently engaged with the closure and a catch on the other end projecting outwardly of the closure for engagement with the tube neck, and means to prevent rotation 0f the dispensing device in the neck.

5. In a device of the character described, a tube having a neck, a sealing disk adjacent the inner end of the neck, a dispensing closure having a bevelled sharpened inner end slidable in the neck and adapted to form an opening in the sealing disk when projected inwardly of the neck, means to prevent complete removal oi' the dispensing device from the neck after puncturing the disk, means to prevent rotation of the dispensing device in the neck, including a tapering' groove in the inner wall oi' the tube neck and a tapering rib on the outer face oi the dispensing device receivable in the neck groove.

6. In a device of the character described, a tubehaving a neck, a sealing disk adjacent the inner end of the neck, a dispensing closure having a bevelled sharpened inner end slidable in the neck and adapted to form an opening in the sealing disk when projected inwardly of the neck, means to prevent complete removal of the dispensing device from the neck after puncturing the disk, including a spring device carried by the dispensing device and engageable with the tube neck, means to prevent rotation of the dispensing device in the neck, including a tapering groove in the inner wall of the tube neck and a tapering rib on the outer tace ot the dispensing device receivable in the neck groove.

7. In a device of the character described, a tube having a neck, a sealing disk adjacent the inner end of the neck, a dispensing closure having a bevelled sharpened inner end slidable in the neck and adapted to form an opening in the sealing disk when projected inwardly of the neck, means to prevent complete removal of the dispensing device from the neck after puncturing the disk, including a loop spring within the dispensing closure having one end resiliently engaged with the closure and a catch on the other end projecting outwardly of the closure for engagement with the tube neck, means to prevent rotation of the dispensing device in the neck, including a tapering groove in the inner wall of the tube neck and a tapering rib on the outer face of the dispensing device receivable in the neck groove.

8. In a device of the class described, a tube having a neck and closure disk at the lower end of the neck, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck and comprising a tubular plunger closed at its outer end with its inner end open and bevelled to facilitate puncturing of the closure disk, a lateral dispensing opening in the plunger adjacent the outer end adapted to be closed by the tube neck. a spring device in the plunger having a catch projecting outwardly thereof for cooperation with the tube neck to prevent complete removal of the plunger from the neck, and a cooperating wedge and groove construction on the neck and plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger in the tube neck.

9. In a device of the class described, a tube having a neck and closure disk at the lower end of the neck, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck and comprising a tubular plunger closed at its outer end with its inner end open and bevelled to facilitate puncturing of the closure disk, a lateral dispensing opening in the plunger adjacent the outer end adapted to be closed by the tube neck, a spring device in the plunger having a catch projecting outwardly thereof for cooperation with the tube neck to prevent complete removal of the plunger from the neck, a cooperating wedge and groove construction on the neck and plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger in the tube neck, and said plunger adapted to be initially positioned in the neck before puncturing the disk with the wedge and groove construction out of registry to prevent movement of the plunger into' the necky for puncturing engagement with the sealing disk.

10. In combination with a. dispensing tube having a neck with an internal shoulder and a puncturable closure Wall in the neck in the plane of the shoulder, a dispensing closure for the tube slidable in the neck and initially occupying a position outwardly of the puncturable wall and adapted to be forced inwardly of the tube neck to cut a disk from said closure wall and a spring device carried by the dispensing closure interiorly thereof with one end slidably projecting through a wall of the closure for engagement with said shoulder to prevent complete removal of the closure from the tube neck after said wall has been punctured.

SHERIDAN C. WAITE. 

